South Africa can regain the top ODI team spot from India

An interesting battle for the top spot in the ICC ODI Team Rankings could be in the offing as South Africa can displace India if they win the upcoming series against Bangladesh by a 3-0 margin. India overtook South Africa earlier this month with a 4-1 win in a home series against Australia and are one point ahead at 120 points. But South Africa will go ahead of India on decimal points with a 2-0 lead in the series and could reach 121 points with a 3-0 series win.

However, they can only remain at the top if India are unable to win the opening match of their three-match series against New Zealand which will be played the same day as the last South Africa-Bangladesh match – on 22 October.

If India win that match, they too will be on 121 points but ahead on decimal point calculation. However, India will have to go on to win the series against New Zealand 3-0 to retain the top spot as anything less will see South Africa regain the number one position should they win the series against Bangladesh 3-0.

Meanwhile, Champions Trophy winners Pakistan will be hoping to consolidate their sixth position on the table. They presently have 95 points, nine more than their opposition, and can go up to 99 points with a 5-0 win.

On the other hand, Sri Lanka have a tough task if they hope to overtake Pakistan like they did in the Test rankings during a preceding series. Sri Lanka, who were the last side to ensure a direct qualification berth for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, will have to defeat Pakistan 5-0 to move ahead of them.

South Africa v Bangladesh series scenarios:

South Africa beats Bangladesh 3-0 – South Africa 121, Bangladesh 92

South Africa beats Bangladesh 2-1 – South Africa 119, Bangladesh 95

Bangladesh beats South Africa 2-1 – South Africa 117, Bangladesh 97

Bangladesh beats South Africa 3-0 – South Africa 115, Bangladesh 100

Pakistan v Sri Lanka series scenarios:

Pakistan beats Sri Lanka 5-0 – Pakistan 99 Sri Lanka 83

Pakistan beats Sri Lanka 4-1 – Pakistan 97, Sri Lanka 85

Pakistan beats Sri Lanka 3-2 – Pakistan 95, Sri Lanka 86

Sri Lanka beats Pakistan 3-2 – Pakistan 93, Sri Lanka 88

Sri Lanka beats Pakistan 4-1 – Pakistan 91, Sri Lanka 89

Sri Lanka beats Pakistan 5-0 – Sri Lanka 91, Pakistan 89

In the MRF Tyres ICC ODI Player Rankings, South Africa boasts four batsmen in the top 20 – AB de Villiers (third), Quinton de Kock (eighth), Faf du Plessis (ninth) and Hashim Amla (11th), while leg-spinner Imran Tahir is the top-ranked bowler with pace bowler Kagiso Rabada in third position.

Bangladesh’s left-handed opener Tamim Iqbal is their leading batsman at 16th position while captain Mashrafe Mortaza (18th) and Shakib Al Hasan (20th) are the leading bowlers.

For Pakistan, batsman Babar Azam (sixth) and bowlers Hasan Ali (seventh) and Imad Wasim (34th) are the leading players according to the rankings, while for Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis (32nd) and Suranga Lakmal (39th) are the leading players, but outside the top 20.

Series itinerary

Pakistan v Sri Lanka:

13 October: 1st ODI, Dubai

16 October: 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi

18 October – 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi

20 October – 4th ODI, Sharjah

23 October – 5th ODI, Sharjah

South Africa v Bangladesh:

15 October:  1st ODI, Kimberley

18 October: 2nd ODI, Paarl

22 October – 3rd ODI, East London

ICC ODI Team Rankings

ICC ODI Batsmen Rankings

ICC ODI Bowlers Rankings

ICC ODI All-Rounders Rankings